ThomasNATION Classic Reviews - Heart of Gold
October 24, 2026
Man, the CGI era really did Toby dirty, didn't they? Once in a while, you'd get an episode where he's in-character, such as The Lost Puff, Den and Dart or even James to the Rescue, but most of the time, he was as much of a hypochondriac (I hope I'm using that word right) as Henry - being scared of Misty Island, a forest, Belle for some reason, even a signal can have this Toby screaming for the hills. But if there's one episode that fans can agree got him right, it's Heart of Gold. And I'm here to ask, is there any validity to those claims? Let's begin.
Toby is working at Ulfstead Castle for the day, but the comments about how old he is start to get to him. But things take a turn when two thieves break into the castle, deadset on stealing Godred's crown.
Let's get the obvious out of the way. The way this episode does Toby is top-notch. Not only does the worrier side of Toby make more sense here with him worried about being seen as old and useless, which feels like an element lifted out of the classic series, but the final chase scene itself is super exhilirating. The chase was inspired by The Wrong Trousers, the classic Wallace and Gromit short, a fact confirmed by Michael White himself, and it really shows. It's a thrill.
The episode also boasts a nice message of not judging anyone by their appearance, which isn't new for this series, but is a nice moral nonetheless. Not to mention how this episode is pretty funny. Diesel gets a few good lines, I love the detail of Glynn bubbling like an actual coffee pot when he snores, and I like the banter between the two passengers Toby collects.
Overall, Heart of Gold was a delight. With its charming comedy, great portrayal of Toby and lovely message, this may be one of Toby's best outings in the CGI era. If you're a Toby fan, then this is a high recommendation, and as such, this gets a perfect...or rather, a golden 5/5.
Final Rating: 5/5
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